Easel poster



June 5, 1945. B. SALUSSOLIA 2, 7

I EASEL POSTER Filed NOV. .17, 1943 l 7i INVENTOR.

Jeff/s74 45210-290174 M rMM iy Patented June 5, 1945 EASEL POSTERBattista Salussolia,,;Wood Ridge, N. J., assignor to Sweeney LithographCompany, ville, N. J a corporation of New York Inc., Belle- ApplicationNovember 17, 1943, Serial No. 510,839

- 6 Claims.

The invention herein disclosed relates to flexible posters of the easeltype and special objects of the invention are to provide an easelconstruction for such posters, which will be particularly simple andinexpensive, easily set up, foldable into small compass and made uppracticallyentirely of readily obtainable material, such as commercialwooden strips or rods.

These and otherdesirable objects are attained by the novel features ofconstruction, 'combinations and relation of parts, as hereinaftersetforth, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing andbroadly covered in the claims. I

Fig. 1 in the drawing referred to is a rear perspective view of an easelposter constructed in accordance with and embodying features of theinvention. H

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective and side elevation showing the posterand easel rolled and folded as for transportation or storing.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken part sectional detail illustrating thehinge and detent construction for the supporting rod member of thecombination. g

Fig. 4 is a side view illustrating a modified form of the invention.

In the severa1 views, a flexible roll-up type of poster is indicated at5, having upper and lower edge strips 6 and I. Theseedge strips areshown as having rearwardly faced openings 8 and 9, for reception of therods completing the easel structure.

I indicates a base rod having its forward end engaged in the opening inthe bottom edge strip and Il designates a supporting rod having itslower end seated on the base rod and its upper end engaged in supportingrelation in the opening 8. in the upper edge strip.

The attachment of the supporting rod to the base rod is convenientlyeffected by providing a seating I2, in the rearwardly extended endportion of the base rod for reception of the lower end of the supportingrod.

For making the several connections thus far described, the ends of therods may be tumed down as dowels to enter corresponding openings in thecompanion members.

The supporting member is braced in upstanding forwardly angled relationby an inclined brace strip 13, which may be of thin, flexible and moreor less resilient material and which is wedged in such bracing andsupported relation across the angle between the connected ends of therods.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the brace strip I3,is shown pivoted at M, on the upper face of the base rod I0, at=one endand as bendable upward at its free end into interlocked engagement in anotch l5, in the upright rod.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 4, the thin flexiblebrace stripl3, is anchored'or fulcrumed at its lower end by seating innotches IS, in the upper face of the brace strip and is caught to theupright at its upper end by engaging in one of the notches I l in thatmember;

In both constructions, the thin strut or thrust piece l3, when wedged inplace, forms a spring, tensioning the angularly related rods apart, thusto hold the flexible easel stretched taut in the manner illustrated.

In the first form of the invention, the strut piece remains attached toand forms a permanent part of the brace rod, whereas in the second form,the bendable strut is athin flat piece separate from other parts andadapted to be packed in any convenient manner fiat against the otherparts.

All the parts mentioned, except the poster itself, may be made of lightinexpensive wooden strip or rod material.

To provide greater resiliency, reduce weight and attain a more compactbundle for shipment, the upright support may be made in two parts, alower relatively rigid section l3, and an upper lighter and thinnersection 19, hingedly connected together at 20. These two parts are shownas yieldingly held in their extended relation by a round head abutment2!, seated in the upper portion of the more rigid member, arranged toengage a seat 22, in the opposing face of the lighter, more resilientmember. The yielding nature of the upper lighter strip enables thissimple combination to provide a satisfactory detent for firmly retainingthe foldable upright in the extended relation indicated in Figs. 1, 3and 4.

What is claimed is:

1. A flexible poster having upper and lower edge strips at the top andbottom of the same, said edge strips having rearwardly faced openingstherein, rearwardly and upwardly projecting supporting rods having endsengaged in said openings and having the opposite ends of the sameconnected in relatively angled relation, a thrust transmitting bracestrip wedged in compression across the angle between said connected endsof the supporting rods, said brace strip being of relatively rigidsection having its lower end-cOn-L nected with the rearward end of saidfirst rod and an upper section of thinner, flexible material hinged tothe upper end of said relatively rigid section, the upper end of saidhinged flexible section being engaged in the opening in the upper edgestrip and a brace engaged across the angle. between the connectedportions of the lower rod and said relatively rigid lower section of thesupport.

3. A flexible poster having upper and lower edge strips with openings inthe back of the same,

a bottom rod engaged in the opening in the lower edge strip, asupporting rod comprising a lower relatively rigid section having itslower end connected with the rearward end of said first rod and an uppersection of thinner, flexiblematerial hinged to the upper end of saidrelatively rigid section, the upper end of said hinged flexible sectionbeing engaged in the opening in the upper edge strip, a brace engagedacross the angle between the connected portions of the lower rod andsaid relatively rigid lower section of the support and cooperatingdetent means on said hingedly connected upper and lower sections forreleasably retaining the same in extended relation.

4. A flexible poster having edge strips at the upper and lower ends ofthe same, a rearwardly extending base rod connected with the lower edgestrip, a supporting rod having its lower end seated on the rearwardlyextending portion of said base rod and its upper end in supportingengagementv with the upper edge strip and a flexible springy brace stripdisposed in inclined relation across yielding thrust transmittingengagement across said angle between the rods described.

5. An easel poster, comprising a flexible poster having upper and loweredge strips, a foldable support having hingedly connected upper andlower sections, the lower section being of heavier more rigid materialthan the upper section, a protruding detent plug seated in the heavierlower section in opposition to the hingedly connected upper section,said upper section having a seat engagable over the protruding portionof said plug for retaining the two hingedly connected sections inextended relation, said upper section having a supporting engagementwith the upper edge strip and a base rod connected with the lower edgestrip and having a supporting connection with the lower end of saidheavier more rigid section of the support.

6. An easel poster, comprising a flexible poster having upper and loweredge strips, a foldable support having hingedly connected upper andlower sections, the lower section being oi heavier more rigid materialthan the upper section, a protruding detent plug seated in the heavierlower section in opposition to the hingedly connected upper section,said upper section having a seat engagable over the protruding portionof said plug for retaining the two hingedly connected sections inextended relation, said upper section having a supporting engagementwith the upper edge strip, a base rod connected with the lower edgestrip and having a supporting connection with the lower end of saidheavier more rigid section of the support and a brace of bendablematerial wedged into position between said BATTISTA SALUSSOLIA.

